Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Chair of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel, issued the following statement today as the Pentagon made its formal announcement on setting goals to allow women to serve in elite combat roles:
“This is another step in the right direction in opening combat roles to women. Women are already fighting and dying for our country shoulder-to-shoulder with their brothers in uniform on the frontlines, but without the formal recognition that is essential for them to advance and obtain the benefits they have earned. Officially recognizing women in combat will strengthen our country both morally and militarily, and create promising opportunities for the brave women who serve our country, and the families that stand by them. By officially opening combat roles more women will be able to advance their careers to the senior ranks and increase the diversity of our military leadership. I have no doubt there are qualified women who can serve in any role in our military and when all of our best and brightest serve in combat our country is stronger for it.”